Good morning *|FNAME|*! As you probs know, February is Black History Month. So, throughout the month we’ll be highlighting black leaders past and present who have helped shape Miami. Today, we’re talking about D.A. Dorsey, one of the OGs of Miami.

D. A. Dorsey (D.A. Dorsey Technical College photo)

Dorsey came to Miami to work as a carpenter on Henry Flagler’s railroad in the late 1800s, but after seeing a huge need for housing among railroad workers, he soon got into real estate and bought land in Overtown.

His work as a developer made Dorsey Miami’s first black millionaire. He built the Dorsey Hotel, the first black-owned hotel in the city, founded the first black bank, and at one point, even owned Fisher Island, which today is definitely the 305’s most elite slice of land.

He sold land to establish Miami’s first park for blacks and donated land for the city’s first library for blacks. His former home at 250 NW 9th Street is listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places.

Wanna know more? We’ve got a full download on early Miami’s black history here.

IS BUTTER A CARB?

For the next few weeks we’ll be highlighting a group of Miamians trying to meet their goals as part of our Wellness Challenge. (Check out our first group here!)

Jam sesh. The organizers of Okeechobee Music Festival, a hippie fave that goes down every year in central Florida, want to bring a pop music festival to South Beach right after Art Basel wraps up. Got thoughts? The city will hear what you have to say this Wednesday. (RE: Miami Beach)